2012: Controversy over Perry's 'Day of Prayer'

HUCKABEE: “Mike Huckabee wants to teach kids about 9/11 and he's ready to earn a few bucks off of it,” the New York Daily News writes. “Just in time for the 10th anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on American soil, the former Arkansas governor is marketing a new history DVD as part of his ‘Learn Our History’ series meant to teach young children about important events in American history… In the preview clip, cartoon like figures depict a plane hit the World Trade Center as an American kid asks ‘who would do something like this?’ After a quick look at a cartoon-version of Osama Bin Laden yelling ‘death to America’, the children then learn how America came together quickly after the attacks by ‘Muslim terrorists’ and how the US and its allies went after Al Qaeda.”

HUNTSMAN: Per NBC’s Jo Ling Kent, Huntsman has been meeting with state legislators and party leadership hoping to drum up more New Hampshire support, according to campaign sources. And he began hitting Romney on health care yesterday. At a campaign stop at electronics manufacturer Cirtronics in Milford, N.H., yesterday, Huntsman was asked by an employee about his thoughts on healthcare, Huntsman said he would immediately repeal the health-care plan that passed last year. “You can either look at the heavy-handed government-centric mandate enforcing people’s behavior, which in cases like Massachusetts, we have seen premiums rise substantially,” he told about 50 people gathered, “or you can create a free-market based exchange, which we chose in Utah.”

In 2007, though, Huntsman asked if he’d support a mandate on health care, he said (via Verum Serum), “I’m comfortable with a requirement. You can call it whatever you want, but at some point we’re going to have to get serious about how we deal with this issue.”

PALIN: She railed for a second straight day about Vice President Biden reportedly calling Tea Partiers “terrorists,” this time pivoting to President Obama. “[I]f we were real domestic terrorists, shoot, President Obama would be wanting to 'pal around with us, wouldn't he?” she said, per GOP 12. Then, she invoked Bill Ayers and shaking hands with Hugo Chavez.

PAWLENTY: Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was in Florida yesterday when he was asked if his campaign is preparing for the prospect that Texas Gov. Rick Perry might jump in. “Rick is a friend,” Pawlenty said, according to NBC’s Lauren Selsky. “I've traveled internationally with him. I know him well and I assume in fact am counting on the fact he's going to get in the race and for awhile that will be the buzz, as it is with all these new entrants or potential entrants into the race, but all of us bring different strengths and weaknesses to the race, and we'll welcome him to the race and look forward to the debate about who's best to lead this country.”

The St. Petersburg Times reports that - despite lagging numbers in the polls - Pawlenty is racking up support from influential Florida Republicans. In a campaign stop in Tampa, FL, yesterday he called the debt deal "a fiscal aspirin" to treat a chronic problem, the AP reports.

PERRY: In an interview with the Nashua Telegraph (that’s in New Hampshire, folks), the potential presidential candidate blasted Obama's "class warfare" and said he has the "stomach" for a tough race. "I wouldn’t get in if I didn’t have the stomach for it. Running three times for governor of Texas, six times statewide, if I step in, they can bet it will be all-in. There will be plenty of vinegar and whatever else needs to be in the recipe."

The Texas Observer profiles senior Perry adviser Dave Carney. "If there is a hallmark of a Carney race, it’s his creative strategies. He’s also dabbled with unscrupulous tactics, having once run a corporate-funded nonprofit that spent untold amounts of money criticizing certain candidates in the name of “voter education.” What’s clear is that he’ll try almost anything that will give him good odds to win."

Pressure from outside groups is mounting against the Perry-backed day of prayer planned for Aug. 6. The Houston Chronicle: "On Tuesday, more than 50 Houston-area religious and community leaders disseminated a signed statement drafted by the Anti-Defamation League expressing ‘deep concern’ about a prayer rally ‘not open to all faiths.’”

ROMNEY: “Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney released the names of his new justice advisory committee today, which will be co-chaired by former Supreme Court nominee Judge Robert Bork,” the Boston Globe writes.

SANTORUM: NBC’s Alex Moe notes that Santorum continued his jam-packed Iowa tour Tuesday; he stumped in Indianola, Perry, Jefferson, Carroll, and Atlantic. Santorum, who wore cowboy boots, jeans, and a rolled-up long sleeve shirt, told Iowans he really needed their help to “shock the political establishment” by finishing strong at the Ames Straw Poll next weekend. NBC has covered Santorum at his last 10 events in the Hawkeye State, where he criticized the national media for “ignoring him.” (At stop 10, however, he acknowledged that NBC was there covering him and thanked us for the coverage.) In Indianola, Santorum said he is running because of “Obamacare.”